Sack-fastener.



No. 642,302. Patented Ian. 30, I900.

' W. H. DAVIS.

SACK FASTENER.

(Application filed Aug. 23, 1899.) {N 0 M 0 (1 e1.)

J WNW/$55. INVENTOR.

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rrnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLARD H. DAVIS, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

SACK-FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters latent No. 642,302, dated January30, 1900. Application filed August 23, 1899- Serial No. 728,207. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that l, WILLARD H. DAVIS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in SaolnFasteners, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to devices for tying and sealing sacks and bags,and has for its object to provide a simple, cheap, and practicablefastener for such receptacles, so as to preserve their contents fromaccidental spilling and from the-introduction of flour-worms, weevil,dust, and all foreign matter.

Myimproved fastener is made independent of the sack or bag in varyingsizes and weights to suit all kinds and sizes of flour-sacks, grainbags,jute-bags, 8:0,, and is capable of easy and expeditious applicationthereto in a manner to constitute a neat' and effective seal on thecontents.

To this end my invention, generally stated,

consists of a metal loop of a length slightly greater than the width ofthe folded and fiattened mouth of the sack to which it is to be appliedand comparatively narrow and formed of some smooth pliable material, ascopper wire, adapted to be passed over said folded and flattened mouthof a sack or bag and rolled downward and secured by its ends thereon,all in the manner as more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-Figure l is a perspective view of the upper end of a filled sack,showing the flattened flap folded over along its upper open edge and inposition to receive the fastener. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing thefastener in position and ready for the folding operation. Fig. 3 isasimilar View showing the flap rolled or folded around the body of thefastener. Fig. l is a similar view showing the ends of the fastener bentover and flattened down upon the folded flap, and Fig. 5 is an enlargeddetail of my preferred form of fastener.

Similar letters of reference refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views.

A represents a sack or bag, which in the example chosen to illustratethe application and use of my invention may be one of the stout papersacks commonly used by millers and grocers for putting up packages offlour. In practice it is filled to within a short distance of the top,the opposite sides of the sack being then drawn together in parallelrelation, flattened, and the upper open end or edge folded over, asshown at b in Figs. 1 and 2, thus forming a flap B.

0 represents my improved fastener in its preferred form, it being mostcheaplyand expeditiously made from a single length of round pliable wire(preferably copper) bent back on itself and having its ends twisted,soldered, or otherwise secured together, as shown at 0, thus forming anarrow wire loop of a length slightly greater than the width of thefolded and flattened mouth of the sack as the latter is prepared for thereception of the fastener. In applying it to the sack it is first placedover the upper folded end of the flap, as shown in Fig. 2. Then by meansof its projecting ends 0 c it is rolled downward two or three turns,whereby the fiap is coiled or folded around the body of the fastener, asshown in Fig. The ends 0' c of the latter are then bent over, asindicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3, and are finally flattened down,asshown in Fig. 4, whereby the flap is clamped and se cured in its coiledor folded position, and the sack is securely sealed against bothaccidental spilling of its contents and the introduction of worms, dirt,or any other objectionable foreign matter.

I am aware that fasteners formed of a single narrow strip of sheetmetal, as tin, gummed or otherwise secured to the flap of aparcelenvelop or attached to one of the sides of the mouth of a paperbag are old, and I make no claim to such a fastener. My invention isdistinguished from all such fasteners primarily in the fact that it isentirely independent of the sack or bag on which it is to be used, notbeing gummed or in any way secured thereto prior to the fasteningoperation. It is not asolid metal strip, but a narrow wire loop, wherebyits mode of application to the sack or bag is also different from thatof the devices referred to. Being made of smooth round wire, it has notendency to cut the ma terial of the sack or bag during the fasteningoperation or afterward, and when made in the proper sizes it isapplicable not only to all sizes of paper sacks and bags, but to bags ofother materials-as cotton, jute, &c.--as well. Being formed of a singlepiece of wire properly bent and twisted or otherwise secured together atits ends, it can be quickly and cheaply made, is easily applied, andwhen in use forms a neat and effective closing device.

I have shown the ends of the wire as twisted together at c to form theloop; but it will be understood that they may be soldered or secured inany other preferred manner.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

1. As an article of manufacture, a fastener for sacks, bags, and similararticles, comprising a loop formed of smooth pliable metal, slightlylonger than the width of the folded and flattened mouth of the sack orbag to which it is to be applied, and comparatively narrow, and adaptedto be passed over said folded and flattened mouth of a sack or bag andthen rolled down and secured thereon by bending over the ends of saidloop to clamp the coils of the flap, in the manner and for the purposedescribed.

2. As an article of manufacture, a fastener for sacks, bags, and similararticles, comprising a single piece of smooth pliable wire bent back onitself and having its ends secured together, thus forming a narrow wireloop of a length slightly'greater than the width of the folded andflattened mouth of the sack or bag to which it is to be applied, andadapted to be passed over said folded and flattened mouth of a sack orbag and then rolled down and secured thereon by bending over the ends ofsaid loop to clamp the coils of the flap, in the manner and for thepurpose described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I hereunto signmy name, this 19th day of August, 1899, in the presence of twowitnesses.

WILLARD H. DAVIS.

Witnesses:

ELMER E. DAVIS, A. WILLIAM BAXTER.

